Villa boss O'Neill gives international stars extra break

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is to give his players on international duty during June an extra fortnight off before reporting back for pre-season training.

Up to 11 senior Villa players are likely to be in action for their respective countries at either senior or Under-21 level.
Villa are due to start preparations for the 2007-2008 campaign at their new training complex at Bodymoor Heath on July 4.
But Thomas Sorensen, Olof Mellberg, Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma, Stiliyan Petrov, John Carew, Shaun Maloney, Gary Cahill, Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Luke Moore will be given an additional fortnight to recharge the batteries.
O'Neill said: "We're due back around July 4 for the start of pre-season training, but most of the international boys will get an extra 10-14 days.
"There's the European Under-21 tournament where we might have four players involved and then all the other boys are playing full internationals in June."